Means for guarding openings into cisterns, catch-basins, &amp;c.



PATENTED SEPT. 11, 1906. I H. J. BIRKE NKAMP. MEANS FOR GUARD'ING OPENINGS INTO CISTERNS ,UA TOH BASINS, 8w.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1906.

1: NORRIS PETERS co., WASHI'NOYON, 0. C

. UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

HENRY J. BIRKE'NKAMP, OF TOLEDO, OHIO; MEANS FOR GUARDING OPENINGS INTO CISTE R NS, CATCH-BASINS, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed February 26,1906. Serial No. 302,997.

To all whom it may OOH/067%:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. BIRKEN- KAMP, of Toledo, county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Means for Guarding Openings into Cisterns, Catch-Basins, &c.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention has reference to improved means for'protecting the openings into cisterns, catch-basins, &c.

The main object of my invention is to provide a cover for the opening in the top of a cistern or catch-basin which shall have a pro vision for effectively guarding the opening when the cover is elevated for the purpose of ventilation.

It is well known that the frequently-occurring accidental drownings of children result from the careless practice of permitting the openings in the tops of cisterns to be unguarded when the plate; which serves as a closure for the opening has been temporarily removed. Although in a majority of such cases the accident may be attributed to carelessness in permitting the opening in the cistern-top to be unguarded, it is a fact that in many cases the children themselves remove the cover for the purpose of looking into the cistern to satisfy so fall through the opening. My invention is constructed to permit the cover to be supported in elevated position above the opening in the cistern-top, and when in such posi-- tion its entire removal is absolutely prevented and the space between the cover and the top will be effectively guarded.

In carrying out my invention I employ the novel combination, arrangement, and 'details of construction hereinafter shown, described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 is an elevation showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view, the section being on line 00 as, Fig. 1, the wire guard being shown in broken outline.

Referring to the details of construction, 1 indicates the stone top of a cistern or catchtheir curiosity and in doing basin provided with the usual circular opening therethrough and having the opening formedwith a marginal offset or shoulder 2 to receive the marginal edge of the cast cover 3 of the usual disk form. The latter is provided at an approximately central point with a ring or handle 4, adapted to serve as a means for elevating the same. Secured to the under side of the cover at equidistant pointsadjacent to its outer margin are a plurality of supports 5. These supports are constructed of straps of steel or wrought-iron bent angularly at their upper ends at 6 to receive the bolts 7, which are adapted to firmly secure the supports to the cover. The upper portions 8 of the supports are made straight and assume positions away from the sides of the opening in'the cistern-top to permit them to freely pass therethrough. The lower portions 9 are curved outwardly to contact with the sides of the opening, and there- 'by, owing to their resiliency, maintain'the cover in elevated position, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1. The extreme lower ends of the supports are bent angularly outward at 10 to contact with the lower face of the cisterntop adjacent to the opening therein. To the inner faces of the supports is secured a resilient band or ring 11, having the ends 12 and 13 free to move relative to each other when the ring is contracted or expanded. Ring 1 1 is adapted to impart its resiliency to the supports, and being capable of compression the same will readily yield to pressure of the supports thereon.

Secured to the ring -1 1, preferably by rivets 14, is a'section of wire-netting 15, bent inthe form of a cylinder havingthe meeting ends 16 and 17 overlapped to permit the same to slide upon each others The lower edge of the netting is bent angularly outward at 18 to underlie the margin of the opening in the cistern-top, thereby preventing mice, leaves, and other foreign material from falling into the cistern to contaminate the water therein;

To more securely hold the cover in elevated position and to insure against possible lowering of the same by slight pressure directed upon its top face, I provide knobs 19 upon the curved portions 9 of the supports adapted when the cover is elevated to rest upon the shoulder surrounding the opening in the cistern-top. These knobs are preferably large rivet heads, the shanks ofthe rivet being directed through perforations in the supports and having their inner ends upset,

the construction being both cheap and effective.

The device is shown in elevated position above the opening in a cistern-top by full lines, Fig. 1, and in lowered position by the dotted lines 0.. The cover is elevated by liftin forcibly upon the ring 4, and the same wil bemaintained in elevated position by the combined resiliency of the supports and the ring 11 directing pressure against the walls in the 0 ening in the cistern-top. The knobs upon t e curved portions of the su ports will also materially assist in holding t e device in elevated position. The entire removal of the device will be prevented by the angular lower ends of the supports. When the cover is elevated, the wire-netting will eflectively guard the space between the cover and the cistern-top and permitfoul air to escape from the cistern and fresh air to enter. The cover is lowered to close thevopening by pressure of the foot and the weight of the body directed upon its upper face.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the top of a cistern, catchbasin orthe like, having an opening, of a cover adapted when in loweredpositionto close the opening, and means for supporting the cover in elevated position above the opening cornrising a plurality of resilient supports pressing outwardly against the sides of the opening, and a resilient ring secured within said. supports, substantially as described.

2.- In a device of the class described, the combination with the top of a cistern, catchbasin or the like, havin an opening, and means carried on the un or side of the over to support the same in elevated position and prevent its removal, comprising a plurality of resilient supports pressing outwardly against the sides of the opening and having angular lower ends to contact with the margin of the opening in the top, and a resilient ring secured within the supports, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination with the top of a cistern, catch basin or the like, having an opening, of a cover for said opening, a plurality of resilient supports attached to the under side of the cover having straight upper portions disposed to move freely out of contact with the sides of the opening when the cover is elevated, said supports also having outwardly-curved lower portions against the sides of theopening, the lower ends of said supports being bent angularly outward to limit their upward movement, and projecting knobs upon the curved portions of the supports adapted to rest upon the margins of the opening in the top when the cover is elevated, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with the top of a cistern, catchbasin or the like, having an opening, of a cover to close the opening,resilient supports for the cover adaptedto press outwardly against the sides of the opening when the cover is elevated and maintain the same in elevated position, a resilient ring secured withinthe supports, and a wire guard secured to said ring and having overlapping ends to permit free contraction and expansion of the ring, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the top of a cistern, catchbasin or the like, having an opening, of a cover to close the opening, resilient supports for the cover engaging the sides of the opening, a resilient ring disposed within the supports to impart its resiliency thereto, a wire guard of cylindrical form supported upon the ring and havin overlapping ends freely movable with relation to each other and also having its lower edge extended outwardly to underlie the margin of the opening in the top, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myiown I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. BIRKENKAMP.

Witnesses:

CARL H. KELLER, W. L. HoYT.

adapted to contact with and press 

